Creating a Baby Registry? Here are Eight Products to Avoid

If you’re an expecting parent, you might be overwhelmed by the lengthy list of products needed when welcoming a new baby. Registries are a great way to give friends and families the information they need to get exactly what you need, but what is safe to buy? Last year, KID saw the highest number of nursery product recalls in a decade, and the AAP reports that about 3,500 sleep-related infant deaths occur annually in the US. 

Here are eight products to avoid when making your list:

Inclined Sleepers

According to the CPSC, inclined sleepers have been linked with over 100 infant deaths, mostly caused by positional asphyxiation. While these products have been banned from the market since 2019 through the passage of the Safe Sleep for Babies Act, avoid them in second-hand markets or boutiques, and remember to have your babies sleep on firm, flat surfaces without loose bedding. 

Weighted Sleep Products

Weighted blankets, swaddles, and sleep sacks should always be avoided on babies. The AAP’s New Safe Sleep Guidelines stress that the evidence available at this time does not show that these products are safe, nor that they help babies sleep longer or better.

Lounger/Sleep Positioners

While these products are marketed as a way to promote safe sleep, they create a suffocation hazard for babies. Loungers violate the CPSC’s Infant Sleep Products Rule. Instead, follow the ABC’s of sleep: a child should be Alone, on their Back, and in a bare Crib, play yard, or bassinet that meets the federal standard.

Padded Bumper Pads

Padded crib bumpers are not safe for infants as they pose a suffocation risk if a baby’s face were to press against the bumper or become wedged between the bumper and the crib side or mattress. Bumper pads were banned in 2019 with the passage of the Safe Sleep for Babies Act, but like inclined sleepers, they may still be found in second-hand markets or boutiques. While mesh liners aren’t included in the Safe Sleep for Babies Act ban, they are still something added to the ideal bare crib (Alone in the ABCs of Safe Sleep), so KID does not recommend them.

Bed Sharing Products

This dangerous product directly violates the A in the ABC’s of sleep: a child should be Alone. Like bumper pads and sleep positioners, once a baby learns to roll over, this product poses suffocation hazards. Instead of bed-sharing, opt for room-sharing. 

Walkers

Walkers are used to allow babies to move before they can crawl or walk. But they pose many dangers to a baby, mostly caused by falling down stairs or being able to gain access to things like hot liquids or stovetops. While standards have been implemented, KID, the AAP, and most child care licensing recommendations still warn against the use of walkers. Learn more about the hazards here.

Bath Seats

Drowning is the third leading cause of accidental death in the U.S., and children under the age of five are at increased risk. It only takes a few seconds and as little as one inch of water for an infant to drown. KID recommends against the use of all bath seats because these products are intended as bathing aids, not safety devices. Keep babies within arm’s reach while near water and consider using a small baby bathtub within the larger bath instead. Never rely on siblings to watch a baby in the tub.

Crib Tents

Crib tents are intended to keep toddlers inside and entertained in their cribs, but are unsafe. Generally parents should avoid anything low hanging in a child’s sleep area. These items could pose a strangulation and suffocation hazard, or fall if not properly secured. 

With so many different products on the market, keep the dangerous ones off your registry. Follow The Dos and Don’ts of Safe Sleep, and check the CPSC for any recalls or warnings issued for your products before use. For more safety information and recall updates, sign up for KID’s email alerts and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @KidsInDanger.